ISLAMABAD: Militants on Tuesday opened fire on security forces, killing three soldiers and wounding eight others in Panjgur, the military said.

The incident took place near Gichak Valley in Balochistan.

"Security forces were on routine patrolling when they came under terrorist fire that killed three soldiers and wounded eight others including an officer," a senior security official told AFP. The "condition of five security officials is critical," a military statement said, adding that injured soldiers had been evacuated to a combined military hospital in Quetta. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.